The thyrocervical trunk is an artery of the neck. It is a branch of the
subclavian artery. It arises from the first portion of this vessel, between the origin of the subclavian artery and the inner border of the
scalenus anterior muscle. It is located distally to the
vertebral artery
The vertebral arteries are major arteries of the neck. Typically, the vertebral arteries originate from the subclavian arteries. Each vessel courses superiorly along each side of the neck, merging within the skull to form the single, midline ...
and proximally to the
costocervical trunk. It gives off a number of branches to the neck. It helps to supply
blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in th ...
to the muscles of the neck.
Structure
The thyrocervical trunk is a branch of the
subclavian artery.
It arises from the first portion of this vessel, between the origin of the subclavian artery and the inner border of the
scalenus anterior muscle. It is located distally to the
vertebral artery
The vertebral arteries are major arteries of the neck. Typically, the vertebral arteries originate from the subclavian arteries. Each vessel courses superiorly along each side of the neck, merging within the skull to form the single, midline ...
and proximally to the
costocervical trunk. It is short and thick.
Branches
The thyrocervical trunk divides soon after its origin into a number of branches.
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Inferior thyroid artery.
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Suprascapular artery
The suprascapular artery is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk on the neck.
Structure
At first, it passes downward and laterally across the scalenus anterior and phrenic nerve, being covered by the sternocleidomastoid muscle; it then cross ...
.
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Transverse cervical artery
The transverse cervical artery (transverse artery of neck or transversa colli artery) is an artery in the neck and a branch of the thyrocervical trunk, running at a higher level than the suprascapular artery.
Structure
It passes transversely b ...
. This is present in about 1/3 of cases. In the rest, the dorsal scapular and superficial cervical arteries arise separately.
[Essentials of human anatomy Head and neck A.K. Dutta 5th Edition p94]
The
suprascapular artery
The suprascapular artery is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk on the neck.
Structure
At first, it passes downward and laterally across the scalenus anterior and phrenic nerve, being covered by the sternocleidomastoid muscle; it then cross ...
and
transverse cervical artery
The transverse cervical artery (transverse artery of neck or transversa colli artery) is an artery in the neck and a branch of the thyrocervical trunk, running at a higher level than the suprascapular artery.
Structure
It passes transversely b ...
both head laterally and cross in front of (anterior to) the
scalenus anterior muscle and the
phrenic nerve. The inferior thyroid artery runs superiorly from the thyrocervical trunk to the inferior portion of the thyroid gland. There is significant variation in the origin of these vessels.
These branches explain the alternative name for this blood vessel: the "truncus thyrobicervicoscapularis".
Function
The thyrocervical trunk helps to supply
blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in th ...
to the muscles of the neck.
Additional images
File:Gray522.png, The internal mammary artery and its branches.
References
External links
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sv:A. Truncus thyrocervicalis
Arteries of the head and neck